2013 January NCES The Trailblazer

he TRAILBLAZE

winter 2012

[Wha t is Kin gdo m Edu c a ti on? ] the life-long Bible-based Christ-centered

PROCESS of l ea d i ng a chi l d i n t o a

NEW IDENTITY

with Christ, developing a child according to his/her specific abilities given to him by Christ

so that a child would be empowered to live a life characterized by love

TRUST & OBEDIENCE

to CHRIST. the JOURNEY

Kingdom Education

after graduation The Trailblazer is a publication of Northland Christian, a preschool - 12th grade school.

Check out our new

NCESp!

mobile ap (page 7)

our future GOD IS ON THE MOVE. Northland Christian has experienced favor and blessing of the Lord as He has guided and provided each step of our way. Entrusted by God with the leadership of the school, we are committed to following one step at a time. Instructing students how to Learn, Love, and Lead a world to Christ is our vision... our goal is to do this in a way that is affordable, accessible, sustainable, and even profitable.

Since 2006, nearly 3000 Christian schools have closed their doors. Demographic and economic changes in America challenge us to realistically seek new ways to provide the best biblical education possible, developing devoted Christ-followers who will be influential in our churches, communities, nation, and world. With our lease with The River expiring in 4 years, our Nehemiah Task Force is actively seeking facility options. Realizing that God is expanding us, we have hired Jerry Twombly, from BGW Development Group to serve as our capital campaign consultant. He has begun working to help us successfully navigate this road map in front of us.

Jerry works closely with Building God’s Way Services, a network of kingdom building services developed exclusively for churches and Christian schools. Be watching your mailbox for an invitation to hear more about future plans for Northland Christian School.

God's plan...

Exciting opportunities await us as we embrace this journey. We hope you’ll share them with us.

Straining ahead toward the goal, Administration Board of Education Nehemiah Task Force

PLEASE PRAY FOR: • Wisdom and success in raising up our students to learn, love, and lead others to Christ • Jerry Twombly and school leadership as we step out in faith • Connections to others outside our school family who will be part of the journey • God’s continual ordering of our steps • God’s blessing and protection of our school families

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MISSION STATEMENT Northland Christian partners with Christian families and churches to provide a God-centered, discipleship-based school with academic excellence and a biblical worldview, equipping students to serve and influence our world for Christ.

the Journey Kingdom Education

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Snapshots!

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After Graduation

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Fun Facts?

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Northland Christian School 4214 NW Cookingham Road Kansas City, MO 64164 816-464-0555 www.NorthlandChristianEd.com Northland Christian Education System Non Discrimination Policy The corporation absolutely does not tolerate discrimination against applicants and students on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin. The school admits students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at that school and the school does not discriminate on the basis of race in administering its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs (if any), and athletic and other school-administered programs. The corporation will also not tolerate discrimination with respect to the employment of faculty and staff.

the journey

everal years ago, my daughter gave me a desk plaque with the word "Journey" followed by Jeremiah 29:11.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The word "journey" caught my eye.

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Two years ago, at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) regional conference at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, the theme of the conference was "God's Plans, Our Future" with the same verse. As I was praying about the theme for the school year, the plaque caught my eye and I was reminded of the conference theme. Studying the chapter in Jeremiah closer, I knew God had laid this theme on my heart for the 2012-2013 school year. I learned many lessons that are applicable to where we are as a school today.

"Build Houses... plant gardens" (Jeremiah 29:5-7) LESSON 1 - CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. After a brief introduction regarding the Israelites' less than ideal situation, God told them to "keep on keeping on"; they must stay the course. They were not to sit around and wait to be delivered from their slavery. God wanted them to have an abundant life in their current situation as they awaited the future plans He had for them. God wants us to prosper as a school NOW. Maintaining our vision of instructing our students on how to learn, love and lead a world to Christ does not change due to our location. Our world needs our students to be strong disciples for Christ whether we are at the current location or in a new facility.

"Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you." (Jeremiah 8:9) LESSON 2 - TURN TO THE LORD AND DO NOT LISTEN TO BAD ADVICE. False prophets were telling the people what they wanted to hear and the people were trusting in those words.

How often do we receive bad advice? Or give it? The secular world does not want Christian schools to succeed and will persuade and tempt people by deceiving words. We, as a Kingdom school, are to turn to God for direction and to advise others to do the same. Only God knows the plans He has for our school; we must seek Him first and foremost with all of our heart. The New Testament tells us that it is in and through Jesus Christ that all of the promises of God find their fulfillment. Our entire school community needs to be in prayer for the Board of Education and Administration as we determine what the next steps will be for our school as we seek God's direction.

"When seventy years... I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place." (Jeremiah 29:10) LESSON 3 - WE MUST WAIT ON THE LORD. As a people, the Jews would not return to the Promised Land until God was ready to return them. God's timing is not our own, however, as the above lesson teaches, we should not be slothful in our waiting. We are to do our part and in God's time, He will do His. Your Board of Education and Administration is waiting on the Lord and not pressing forward until we have heard from Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) LESSON 4 - RECEIVE GOD'S PROMISE. And here is "the verse of hope". After God spent time speaking to the Jews about what they were to do now and for how long they would have to do it, He tells them that He has great plans for them. What wonderful plans God has for our school and our children! While I may not know the specific future plans, all we have to do as a school community is look back and see how God has already blessed our school.

The plaque in my office continues to serve as a reminder that God is in control and has plans "immeasurably more than what we can think or imagine". (Ephesians 3:20) Join me as I continue doing what I need to do, turning to Him, waiting, and receiving the plans and blessings He has for our school.

Richard Rice, Principal

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kingdom education

“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth. In a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.” - John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy challenged our country with a mission that seemed, well... impossible! But he was right - 100% commitment AND everyone working together - that is how a great vision is accomplished.

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e, as Christian parents, grandparents, church leaders, teachers, and neighbors, have been called to be on a great mission with God as it pertains to the next generation.

• Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) • Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30) • Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)1

Our vision reflects God’s commands: Northland Christian School teaches students how to LEARN, LOVE, and LEAD. Today, in this rapidly changing world, this is a great challenge.

THE NEXT GENERATION CONNECTS, THINK & ACTS DIFFERENTLY. The next generation, the Millennials, are being driven and influenced by the trends & culture of the day: FaceBook, Google, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and more. One thing we know is that the internet, social media and smart phones are here to stay. Today, 90% of all adults own a cell phone.2 The smart phone manufactured in 2012 has as much computing power as the Apollo spacecraft that traveled to the moon in 1969.

These changing times and the influence of the world has a great affect on our families, churches, schools and children. In nationwide surveys completed by the Barna Research Group: • Only one-third of adults (34%) believe in absolute moral truth • Less than one out of every five Christian adults (19%) has a biblical worldview • Just 1/2 of all self-identified Christians firmly believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles (not the facts, just the principles) that it teaches • In particular, 84% of Christian 18- to 29-year-olds admit that they have no idea how the Bible applies to their field or professional interests.

• Only 4 percent of Americans have a "biblical" worldview and Christian children are rapidly moving away from a Christian worldview.3

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So what is a Biblical Worldview?

A comprehensive biblical worldview includes and fundamentally understands God's truth claimed over every area of life.4 A recent Focus on the Family article had this to say regarding Biblical Worldview. “Most of us go through life not recognizing that our personal worldviews have been deeply affected by the world. Through the media and other influences, the secularized American view of history, law, politics, science, God and man affects our thinking more than we realize. We then are taken "captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8).” 5

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hose who study trends and outcomes have come to believe that an entire generation hangs in the balance. The question is whether or not the Christian community will rise to the challenge. Will God’s people rise up and fight for the future of our country and world?

Kingdom Education takes place when the principles that God has laid down in Scripture are consistently practiced in the home, church and school. A true Kingdom Education provides the next generation with a solid foundation because the same truths and values are taught at home, at church and at school. 6 Establishing written guidelines that are in line with God’s word helps us to stay on the course of Kingdom Education. Northland Christian School has committed to a set of core values, written mission and vision statements that help to guide the decisions made by the administration, staff and the Board of Education as they work toward fulfilling God’s mission. Current goals include:

Increasing / developing

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• teacher & staff development / resources • involvement of our school community in their local church • relationships with churches / Christian businesses in the Northland • clubs / programs / intramural opportunities for students • accessibility to Christian Education for all interested families

• • •

comprehensive counseling services programs that support students with special needs a comprehensive media center “entrepreneurial enterprise” that funds tuition assistance a permanent location/facility

Won’t you look to the future with us? Won’t you join us in assuming the responsibility to diligently teach our children to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Let there be no doubt, that this vision, and more, is achievable.

By making God the priority and honoring Him in all we do, being 100% committed to His commands and Word, and working together - home, church and school, God can reach the next generation. At the end of the day, we will know that we have been successful when we see our children and our grandchildren teach their children to know God and keep His commandments.

For more information on Northland Christian School, go to: www.northlandchristianed.com.

1 Bible, New International Version 2 CBS News, CBS Sunday Morning 3 barna.org 4 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/christian_worldview/worldviews_and_children/help_your_ teen_develop_a_biblical_worldview.aspx 5 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/christian_worldview/whats_a_christian_worldview.aspx 6 Kingdom Education by Glen Schultz 7 www.northlandchristianed.com

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kingdom education

Establishing:

High school

ministry day ?

was held at a local thrift store.

< drum line

during Northland Christian School's Homecoming Parade.

Preschoolers work on their

reading skills =

Northland Christian's boys' Varsity soccer team + girls' Varsity volleyball team =

! CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS! "

Student Council students

snapshots!

>dropping ice cream from the school roof

Elementary students participating in

weekly chapel ?

as a fundraiser for the Junior/Senior Missions Trip to the Dominican Republic.

A middle school student participating in the

LEGOS Robotics Club Competition = 6

dria Harner - Alexan2011 graduate

- Ross Jewitt 2012 graduate

"It [Christian Education] has shaped a lot of my life and impacted my personal Christian faith. I had the opportunity to be surrounded by other Christians and mentors and my friends were growing as I was.

It helped me stay strong especially while playing on a soccer team and being the only Christian. It still effects me today!"

"Christian Education gave me a more stable foundation with higher standards. I expect more of myself because they [the staff and teachers] expected more of me."

Alexandria is working with her CNA license with a home health care organization and currently going to school, majoring in poli sci with a minor in Business. Her goal is to be poli sci speech writer.

Ross is attending Maple Woods and Kansas City Community College, majoring in Audio Engineering. He is currently working at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Audio Engineering.

- Samantha Slocum 2007 graduate

"My Christian Education prepared me for college academically as well as spiritually by ingraining Christian morals that have guided me in making good decisions in all types of situations."

Samantha currently works at Children's Mercy Hospital and will graduate from the UMKC Nursing Program this May. She believes her Christian foundation will enhance her ability to serve God through the nursing profession.

Do you have a heart for helping young people?

Simply scan the code or go visit www.ncs-app.com on your mobile device.

From the app, select "mDonate" and follow the instructions to set up your mobile wallet.

We invite you to join us in helping raise a generation to make a positive impact on our world. A financial investment in Northland Christian now will yield eternal dividends in the lives of generations to come. We have two easy ways to give now and join us in an ongoing partnership: 1. By CHECK. Simply use the enclosed envelope.

2. ONLINE and by TEXT. Our new mobile app allows friends of Northland Christian to sign up and give by texting an amount. The app will also allow you to stay connected to the school through links to our calendar and Facebook. To set up your mobile wallet from your desktop computer, visit ncs.mo-pin.com.

With tax laws potentially changing to limit the amount of charitable deductions that can be claimed, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the opportunity to invest now in the future of the students. If you believe along with us in the importance of sustaining Kingdom Education making it accessible to all who desire, we invite you to make a contribution which will go to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plan, Our Future project.

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how has christian ed. benefitted you?

after graduation

winter edition

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Chillicothe, MO Permit #106

4214 NW Cookingham Road Kansas City, MO 64164

Check out our new

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(page 7)

do you know our staff?

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fun facts

12 teachers with Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degrees

teachers in the process of getting Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degrees

1 teacher with a Specialist Degree

23 pets Does NOT include the neighboring dogs (Napoleon, Jackson & Buddy) or when birds fly in.

DOES include the turtle that made its way home from the Joplin ministry day with seniors and now resides with the kindergarteners!

30 average years as a Christian

COMBINED TEACHING EXPERIENCE

226 YEARS

+ 400 chapels held